Browsing From the desk of Fr. Tharp

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Nov 22, 2017

December 8 Feast of Immaculate Conception

I will announce this in next week’s bulletin as well. The schedule for Masses at St. Ann for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception begins on Thursday, December 7 at 5:30 p.m. I have Mass at St. Ann on Friday, December 8 at 6:00 a.m. (please note that this is one half hour earlier than usual because of the regular Friday Mass schedule). I have the school Mass at the regular 8:00 a.m. time.

The schedule for Masses at Sacred Heart for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception begins on Thursday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. Masses on Friday, December 8 are at 7:00 a.m. The 10:00 a.m. school Mass at Sacred Heart is security restricted (access restricted so that adults must enter through main school doors). There will also be Mass at Sacred Heart on Friday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. We will be sure to announce this again in next week’s bulletin.

Annual Fr. Tharp Split the Pot

We are beginning to sell tickets for the annual “Fr. Tharp Split the Pot for St. Ann.” As in the past, we will sell tickets to the end of the calendar year. As the pot grows larger, interest swells. Encourage your friends and associates to buy early and buy often.

Tickets will be sold after all Sunday Masses in the vestibule.

Reflection on Scripture

The third parable of the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew (The Judgment of the Nations) is perhaps the most well-known parable in Christian tradition. It is the foundation of the “Social Gospel” tradition of Christianity. The parable is eschatological in that it begins with: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory.” In verse forty the last line reads: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did it for me.” Sacraments instated by Jesus give us sanctifying grace. Actual grace empowers us to do God’s will through charity. The highest form of worship and loyalty to God must be exercised by charity.

As well as being eschatological in imagery, this parable also brings us to social awareness. God made all human beings in his image and likeness. If we cannot show our love for God by our compassion to one another, we are not practicing our faith.